Apparatus for orienting peaches according to stem indent and suture



March 16, 1954 Filed Jan. 26, 1949 R. L. EWALD ET AL APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING PEACHES ACCORDING TO STEM INDENT AND SUTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet l j/df A 5 455 n 565 5Z5 0 220F March 16, 1954 R. EWALD ET AL 2,672,229

APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING PEACHES ACCORDING TO STEM INDENT AND SUTURE Filed Jan. 26, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 E INVENTORS imzy a. 5/20; w 4%.

March 16, 1954 R. EWALD ET AL 2,672,229

APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING PEACHES ACCORDING TO STEM INDENT AND SUTURE Filed Jan. 26, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 W Q 6 3 w N INKIENTORS 1%? g QyWJM March 16, 1954 EwALD ET AL 2,672,229

APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING PEACHES ACCORDING TO STEM INDENT AND SUTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 26, 1949 Y INVENTORS March 16, 1954 R. L. EWALD ETAL 2,672,229 APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING PEACHESACCORDING TO STEM INDENT AND SUTURE Filed Jan. 26, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 [EL/Z INVENTOILS.

March 16, 1954 R. L. EWALD ET AL I 2,672,229

APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING PEACHES ACCORDING TO STEM INDENT AND SUTURE Filed Jan. 26, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 FEE INVENTORS.

%z ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 16, 1954 APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING PEACHES ACCORDING TO STEM INDENT AND SUTURE Raymond L. Ewald and Henry A. Skog, Olympia,

Wash, assignors to Special Equipment Company, Portland, reg., a corporation of Oregon Application January 26, 1949, Serial No. 72,886

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for orienting and processing fruit, and concerns particularly the orienting and processing of whole peaches.

The present application is a continuation in part of our application, Serial No. 472,322, filed January 14, 1943 now abandoned, which application is in turn a division of our application, Serial No. 363,596, filed October 31, 1940, and now issued as patent No. 2,398,780, dated April 23, 1946.

In the processing of certain fruits, such for example as whole peaches, it is highly desirable that the several processing operations be ef fected upon the fruit with predetermined reference not only to the stem indent but also to the suture plane of the fruit so that a processing or cutting operation, such for example as a splitting or bisecting of the fruit will be conducted in a proper manner as to the fruit con tour and the plane of the pit.

In accordance with the present invention, as herein disclosed, and also as disclosed in our copending application, Serial No. 64,053, filed December 7, 1948, now Patent No. 2,649,879, orienting means is provided operable upon the fruit during its movement through an auto matic machine, in connection with certain processing operations, and orienting means is further provided which is operable upon the fruit as it is introduced into the machine, or trans mitted thereto or operable prior to a machine processing operation, so as to facilitate the proper operation of such processing means subsequently operable upon the fruit during its passage through the machine. In said copending application, Serial No. 64,053, now Patent No. 2,649,879 generic claims to both such orienting means are presented, along with claims specific to said first mentioned orienting means. Claims specific to the second mentioned orienting means are herein presented, and with claims to certain features thereof herein disclosed but not provided in said copending case.

One important feature of the orienting means herein specifically claimed relates to the manner in which the fruit is shifted by such orienting means, relative thereto and during the orienting operation, so as to bring the fruit and orienting means into proper registration both as to the stem indent and the suture plane of the fruit. More specifically, and as will hereinafter be pointed out, orienting means is provided having a longer axis and shorter axis, of predetermined character and kind in respect to 2 the longer axis and shorter axis of the stem indent of the fruit, such as a peach, to be oriented, in connection with the loose supporting of the fruit and the orienting means in respect to each other, and a pressure engagement therebetween, whereby to effect the shifting of the fruit in respect to the orienting means both with reference to its stem indent and with reference to its suture plane, to eiiect both the suture plane and stem indent shifting orientation of the fruit while thus loosely supported, for delivery to processing means provided at subsequent stations in the machine. In connection with such orientation of the fruit, means is further provided for imparting motion to the orienting means during the orienting operation, to augment and facilitate the orienting operation.

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide orienting means for fruit, specifically whole peaches, for eifecting the orienting thereof both in reference to the stem indent and the suture plane, and specifically wherein such orienting means is operable upon the fruit as it is initially transmitted or conveyed by the machine, after which the predetermined positioning of the fruit is continuously maintained.

Another object of the invention is to provide fruit orienting means by which the fruit, such for example as a peach, may be shifted during the orienting operation relative to the orienting means to bring its stem indent into proper registration therewith, and also turned relative to the orienting means to align the suture plane with the predetermined plane of the orienting means during the orienting operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in connection with fruit orienting means of the foregoing type, means for imparting motion to the orienting means during the orienting operation whereby to facilitate the operation of the orienting means and bring the fruit and orienting means into proper registry both as to stem indent and suture plane.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with orienting means of the foregoing type, processing means for operating upon the fruit including for example cutting means, and wherein the orienting means and processing means cooperate and are sequentially operable upon the fruit to insure and effect the processing operations upon the fruit in predetermined reference to both the stem indent and the suture plane thereof.

More specifically stated, it is an object of the present invention to provide in a mechanism for orienting peaches as to suture plane, means for relatively turning the peach and the long axis of the orienting means to align the long axis of the stem indent with the long axis of the orienting means. In short, the peach will be turned about the long axis of the orienting means and the suture plane of the whole peach will be righted and realigned to register vertically with the vertical plane passing through the long axis of the orienting means.

A further more specific object of the invention is to provide in combination with fruit orienting means of the foregoing type, fruit transfer and control means which effect the continued control of the fruit in respect to the positioning thereof by the orienting means, whereby to predetermine the operation of processing or cutting means upon the fruit body.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in connection with orienting means of the foregoing type, an orienting or fruit positioning member which is adapted to lie into the fruit stem indent a maximum amount when the fruit is properly positioned both as to stem indent and suture plane, and which is thus shaped to conform to the stem indent in a manner so as to eifect the fruit orientation both in respect to the stem indent and also the fruit suture plane.

Yet another object of this invention, specifically stated, resides in providing means for orienting a whole peach so as to correctly position the suture plane of the whole peach in a predetermined plane which includes means for shifting or vibrating the peach with respect to suture plane orienting mechanism designed to fit into the long axis of the suture plane, whereby if the whole peach is somewhat incorrectly positioned as to suture plane or is not properly aligned as to suture plane by reason of abnormalities in the side walls of the long axis of the stem indent, the movement or vibration imparted to the peach with respect to the suture plane orienting means will cause the peach to settle or shift and correctly align itself as to the suture plane orienting mechanism so that as the thereafter correctly aligned whole peach correctly supported in true orientation is conveyed to peach halving mechanism a correct cut will be formed substantially on or through the suture plane whereby eficiently to form the peach into halves by a severance made through the suture plane and/or so that thereafter pitting mechanism may operate with respect to the long axis of the severed half pit and specifically to move pivotally about an axis parallel to the long axis of the half pit whereby to sever each half pit in curvilinear fashion on arcuate incision lines enveloping or following and spaced about the long axis of the pit.

Yet another object of the invention, specifically stated, resides in providing a mechanism and a process for orienting the suture plane of a whole peach wherein the peach is supported on an orienting member having a shape designed to enter the long axis of the stem indent and wherein the orienting mem. er is shifted relatively to the whole peach so supported on said orienting member whereby to cause the long axis of stem indent to register with said orienting member and hence cause the peach to settle down upon said orienting member to the maximum extent whereby to register the suture plane of the peach in accordance with the plane extending centrally longitudinally of said orienting member.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of the machine as seen from the inf-ceding and pitting stations.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section line Ai--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section line 5-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged section line '=-'l' of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure '7, but showing the feeding mechanism in a subsequent position.

Figure 9 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Figure 8.

Figure 1G is a perspective view of the whole fruit cup, and more particularly illus rating the orienting means associated therewith.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line l-H of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken through the line i2i2 of Figure 6.

Figure 13 is an enlarged section taken on the line l3l3 of Figure 6.

Figure 14 shows perspective views of the peach holding members.

Figures 15 and 16 are front views of the same fruit holding jaws.

Figure 17 is an enlarged section taken on the line il -4? of Figure 2, particularly illustrating the stem indent peeling means.

Figure 18 is a section taken on the line i i-I8 of Figure 1'7.

Figure 19 is an enlarged side view of the peach cutting saw, and associated part, taken as indicated by the line iEi-IS of Figure 2.

Figure 20 is a front elevational view of the saw taken on the line 23-28 of Figure 19; and

Figure 21 is an enlarged sectional view of the cam for vibrating the orienting means.

taken on the taken on the taken on the General machine structure The invention of the present construction preferably takes the form of an upright, substantially square main frame comprising four corner posts or angle irons 2, 4, B, and 8 (see Figures 1, 3, and 4), suitably braced at top and bottom by crossbraces ii and I2. In addition, other hereinafter described cross bars serve as rigid supports for these upright members. In a general way, extending laterally from this rectangular frame projects a supplementary frame adapted to be bolted or otherwise attached thereto, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, which supplementary frame is utilized to support the mechanism which initially receives and orients the fruit, the mechanism which severs the peeling at the stem cavity of the fruit, which severs the fruit in halves and which transports the severed halves to the pitting, peeling, fruit-discharging and peel-scavenging mechanism.

The main upright frame hereinbeiore described is provided on a relatively low level thereof with horizontally disposed shafts l4 and 16, the latter being power driven through a clutch mechanism (see Figure 1) by means of a belt l8, adapted, in turn, to be driven from any suitable motor 20. The clutch mechanism is of any desirable construction capable of connecting and disconnecting the power source to the main operating shaft of the machine.

The shaft It carries a gear 2!, driving another gear 22 on the horizontal shaft Is. This shaft I 4 carries two main cams 24 and 25 fixed on opposite ends thereof. Each of these cams are double-faced so as to provide cam operating means on each side thereof. Cam facev 24a comprises a cam track in which operates a hereinafter described roller on a, vertically reciprocable slide for raising and lowering the main tool carrying slide hereinafter described. An opposed cam face forms a roller race, in which a roller on a horizontally reciprocable slide 28 shifts in a horizontal motion transversely to the shaft I i. This slide carries on its outer end a bearing pivot 30 linked to a bearing pivot 32 on an arm 34 fixed on a vertical shaft 36. This shaft has fixed bearings in the housing frame 2 of the main upright frame of the machine. Vertical shaft 36 is oscillated by the slide 28 for operating the peeling mechanism, the details of which are not herein shown.

The cam 26 of the shaft I4 has a cam face 26a forming a cam race, which operates a roller, connected to and operating a horizontally reciprocable slide 38, as shown in Figure 3. This slide 38 is also provided on its outer end with bearing 40 having a vertical pin 42, to the lower end of which is pivoted a link 64. This link 44 carries at its outer end an arm 45, the outer bearing 48 of which is pinned to a vertical oscillatable shaft 50, which is mounted in the corner post 6 of the frame opposite the vertical shaft 35. This shaft 50 has aflixed to its upper end an arm hereinafter referred to, which, in turn pivotally connects at its outer end to a relatively long rod running diagonally across to a universal connection which is, in turn, connected to a, mechanism that operates a sector gear reciprocable about a horizontal axis for operating the mechanism which actuates the pitting knives, the details of which are also herein omitted.

Cam race 26?) operates a vertically reciprocable slide 52 (Figure 6, our Patent 2,398,780), the upper end of which is provided with a rod 54 having a rack tooth portion 56 operating a pinion 58 on a horizontal shaft 60. This shaft 66 has on one end a bevel gear 62 which, in turn, operates bevel gear 64 on shaft 66 having bearings on the outside of the vertical frame member and on the same level as the main fruit cup turret hereinafter described, which turret is above that lower level of the machine at which the shafts I4 and I 6 are located. The shaft 55 operates the mechanism for positioning the auxiliary fruit holding means, specifically the pad, over the fruit cup, for holding the half fruit from tilting during peeling and also for oscillating the fruit discharging means, ejecting the processed half fruit from the machine.

A second level of the main rectangular frame of the machine bounded by the uprights 2 to 8, inclusive, provides the location for the Geneva gears for driving the main or half fruit-holding turret, and also the whole fruit turret, including the driving means therebetween, whereby the main or half fruit holder turret is driven at twice the speed as the whole fruit turret. To effect this function, the shaft is carries between its ends a bevel gear I In (see Figure 3) meshing with a bevel gear II2 on a vertical shaft H4 mounted in the bearing H6 carried by a cross frame H8. This cross frame is supported at one end by suitable vertical brace connected to a cross bar I20 (see Figure 5), in turn carried by the vertical upright frame members 4 and 8. The opposite end I22 of cross frame H8 is bolted to an end support by a projection I24 from a horizontal cross bar I26 carried by the opposite vertical uprights 2 and B of the main frame at about the level of the cross frame H8. This cross bar I26 is preferably an integral part of the substantial triangularly shaped supplementary frame carrying the whole fruit turret.

Shaft Ht carries a bevel gear H2 and also carries above it a gear i28, which latter meshes with a second gear I30 on a bearing I32 on the cross frame H8. Gear I30 meshes with the larger gear I34 horizontally fixed on vertical shaft I56 having a bearing in cross frame II8. Turret shaft I36 is surrounded by a bearing I38, above which is a long sleeve I39, along which is fixed a Geneva gear Me having slots cooperating with a Geneva member I42 on shaft IIA. This latter Geneva member I42 has a circular periphery on which is mounted roller I44 for cooperation with the radial slots of gear I45 aforesaid for intermittently rotating sleeve 435 and for holding it stationary between partial turns. The upright shaft I it above the Geneva member carries a sprocket gear I46 (see Figure 5) driving a chain IE8 running horizontally across the frame of the machine to a larger sprocket I50 fixed to shaft I52. This shaft is mounted upon a substantially triangular frame I53 carried by and integral with the cross bar I26. The frame I53 carries a bearing for the shaft I52, and also has a heavy extension bearing I54 for the whole fruit turret shaft I55. Both of these shafts are vertical and parallel to each other. The whole fruit turret shaft I extends vertically upward toward the top of the frame. The shaft I52 has pinned thereto just above the bearing I53 a part of the Geneva, this part carrying the roller 558.

In addition, the shaft I52 has pinned below the support I55 a gear wheel I53 which meshes with another gear I55, which is pinned to the bottom of the shaft I55. Just above the gear I55, cam I55 is pinned to shaft I55, and above the hearing I54 the shaft I55 carries a relatively long sleeve I5I to which is keyed the cooperative part 952 of the Geneva, whereby, through the intermediary of the Geneva I52, the sleeve I6I is intermittently rotated. Sleeve It! carries the whole fruit feed turret.

Whole fruit feed station and orienting means In accordance with the present invention initial feeding and orienting means is provided for the fruit whereby an operator may feed whole peaches one at a time to the whole fruit holding mechanism carried by the whole fruit turret, and such mechanism comprises orienting means and automatically shiftable means preferably including a concave receiver, into which a whole peach is placed by the operator, so that the stem indent and suture plane of the whole fruit is precisely and definitely located with respect to this receiver, whereby upon the shiftable operation of this feeding mechanism or receiver, the whole peach is properly oriented both as to stem indent and suture plane, and also automatically conveyed to whole peach gripping means preferably in the form of spaced fingers or jaws which are adapted automatically to grip the whole fruit adjacent and on substantially opposite sides of the suture plane of the Whole fruit, and thereafter firmly to hold the whole fruit in the precise position in which it was placed in the first mentioned whole fruit receiving means. Thereafter this whole fruit gripping means is turned by the turret mechanism carrying it to a plurality of stations provided with mechanism for operating upon the peach while thus precisely held.

Direct positioning and orientation of the whole peach in the machine and the mainte'nanc'e of control of a certain alignment with respect to the suture plane and stem cavity is very important for eflicient results obtained from successive processing operations on the peach while it is fed through the machine. It is undesirable to provide feeding mechanism which gives the operator any particular leeway in properly placing the peach in the feeding jaws of the whole fruit turret, and therefore the hereinbefore de scribed means is provided. for eliminating all chance and guesswork by the provision of means whereby the operator merely places the stem cavity of the whole peach over a locating means, and in the construction of the whole fruit receiver with concaved walls, whereby the rounded body of the peach automatically aligns its suture, so that subsequent operations may be exactly determined.

To this end therefore, mechanism for feeding a whole peach to fruit holding mechanism of the whole fruit turret is illustrated as an arm I63, Figure 1, pivoted at [64, and provided with a roller I85 working in the cam race of the cam 160. The outer end of the arm N33 has pivoted thereto an elongated rod-like arm 18%, the upper end of which is pivoted as at I85, to a lever I68 pivoted in turn at I61 to a stationary extension frame or bracket I69. This bracket, as shown in Figure 7, is made adjustable. The lever I68 carries on its outer end a guideway H3. The guideway is disclosed more in detail in Figures 9, 10 and 11 and is so arranged that a block l'H is slidable therein, being normally and resiliently pushed to upward or outer position by means of a spring I12. a rod ill which slides through an opening H2 in the bottom plate of the guideway ['18. The bottom plate has an opening through which this rod Ill may slide and the lower end of the rod carries a head Ilia which contacts the under face of the end of the guideway lid and since the bottom of the spring H2 bears between the bottom end of the guideway I10 and the upper end of the spring bears against the lower face of block Ill, the block is thus normally and resiliently pushed upward but is free to yield downwardly in the event an extra size peach is inserted in the receiver carried by the block I'H. Thus the spring 112 by reason of its resiliency permits some latitude in the positioning of the whole fruit with respect to the stationary support of the whole fruit receiving jaws as hereinafter set forth, so as to accommodate the fruits or peaches of different sizes, resulting from the usual grading for size which is about one quarter inch in diameter between successive grades.

The outer end of the block ill carries means for orienting the stem indent and suture plane of the whole fruit. This comprises orienting means for supporting and orienting the fruit, which means has a relatively longer axis and a relatively shorter axis, and is provided with a peach contacting surface, which along said relatively longer axis has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the peach This block has attached to it i stem indent transversely of the longitudinal axis thereof; and, in addition, this stem indent and suture plane orienting means has its maximum depth of penetration into the peach stem indent when the longer axis thereof is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the stem indent. It is to be understood that the radius of curvature of this long axis surface of the suture plane orienting means may be infinite, viz., the orienting means may be a flat surface provided it has also the other characteristics hereinbefore just recited.

More specifically, in the present instance this fruit stem indent and suture plane orienting means comprises a substantially centrally located, elongated member I M lying within a cup [15, said member being designed to fit loosely and freely, yet substantially to conform with and roject into the longitudinal axis of the stem indent or cavity of the whole peach. When thus aligned, and with the whole peach resting thereon in the position shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, the whole peach will settle down onto the orienting member I'M and said member will project into the stem cavity to a maximum degree. In any nonaligned peach, the orienting means I14 will project only partially into the stem cavity when the stem indent registers generally with the orienting means IM but does not have the long axis of the stem cavity aligned with the long axis of the orienting means [76. The central longitudinal axis of this orienting means I" lies radially of the whole fruit receiving turret and a vertical plane passing through this axis lies intermediate the two pairs of jaws I8! and is! of the whole fruit jaws as seen in Figure 9. A vertical plane passing through the central longitudinal axis of the orienting means lies in the suture plane of the peach when the longitudinal axis of the stem cavity of the peach exactly registers with and fits over the longitudinal axis of the orienting means I14.

In addition, on opposite sides thereof, the cradle I15 is provided with concaved or rounded walls which are substantially cup-shaped. These walls at the rear are cut away as shown at 118, so as not to interfere with the opening and closing movements of the lower whole fruit holding fingers or jaws, as shown in Figure 8. It will be noted that the angle arm 163 is arranged so that, when in position to place the whole fruit between the holding jaws hereinafter referred to, the stem axis of the whole peach is an'gularl'y disposed with respect to a horizontal line passing through the center of the whole fruit receiving means. Specifically the stem axis is downwardly inclined about 30 degrees to such line. This is particularly important because, as the whole fruit is carried by the ripping means of the whole fruit turret, it must be maintained in this exact position.

The central longitudinal axis of the orienting means i'i 'l, as shown in Figure 2, is not only in alignment with the radius of the whole fruit receiving turret but also with the radius of the half fruit turret whereby once the suture plane of the whole peach is properly registered and lined up with the vertically disposed central longitudinal plane through the long axis of the orienting means il the whole peach thus oriented will be fed to the whole fruit gripping jaws which will grip the peach on opposite sides of the suture plane and hold it thus oriented. Thereafter upon partial rotation of the whole fruit turret the peach maintained in this oriented position will be carried to the sawing station wherein the saw 316 has its plane of rotation disposed radially of this same whole fruit turret so that as the saw acts upon the oriented peach the saw will cut through the suture plane of the flesh and pit of the peach. Thereafter as will hereinafter be set forth, the sawed halves of the peach thus held together with their suture planes properly oriented will be carried to the main turret 452, and be deposited in the half cups in such a manner that the suture plane will lie substantially flush with the top or" the cup and the long central axis of the pit will lie radially of the main turret 452 and also extending radially of the division lines of the two cup sections, and will also extend radially of the turret 352 which carries the two pitter blades P as shown in Figure 2, so that in the pitting of each half pit section the two pivotally swinging pitter blades will move about axes parallel with the long axis of the pit and will cut around the long curved marginal edges of the pit, meeting on the underside of the pit whereby cleanly to sever the pit from the flesh of the half peach.

t will thus be seen that the receiver I15 and particularly the orienting or positioning member I'M provides orienting means for effecting the orienting of the whole fruit, and specifically a whole peach, both in respect to its stem indent and suture plane prior to and as the fruit is conveyed and introduced into the transferring or conveying mechanisms of the machine. It will be noted that the slope of the receiver walls, the character of the orienting member I1 3 which is shaped to lie within and extend longitudinally of the peach stem indent along the suture plane, and the movement of the receiver while supporting the fruit causes the fruit to be oriented both in respect to its stem indent and suture plane, whereby subsequent cutting and processing operations will beproperly effected in respect thereto, as will presently appear.

More particularly, referring to the manner in which the motion imparted to receiver IEE augments the orienting action of the positioning member 1 it will be seen that not only does the upward movement of arm 468, as it accelerates, act to increase the effective pressure engagement between the fruit and the orienting member or means lid, to facilitate and augment the orienting action; but due to the provision of spring iii? and the associated spring mounting for the fruit, the vibrating action applied to the support cup or receiver i2 5 as it receives and transmits the fruit upwardly joggles the fruit and further augments the orienting operation.

The cam Hit is set so that the raceway there on is designed to maintain the cradle, saddle, or holding peach receiver H5 in its downward position for as long a time as possible, so that the operator will have the maximum amount or" time which loosely to place or position the peach in cradle F and on the supporting orienting member I1 i.

Bearing in mind that in this machine the mechanism is constantly running, and that the lever N58 has a dwell in its downward or peachreceiving position as shown inFigure '1, when the op 'ator places a peach in the cradle I15, she n. was her best effort in the time allowed to register the stem indent of the peach with the orienting member l'l l. More particularly, she makes her best effort to align the long axis of the stem indent of the peach with the long axis of the orienting and support member I14. Con

sidering the variety in shape of stem indents of a mass of peaches, which feed rather rapidly in succession to the peach receiving cradle I15, the operator obviously, in a good percentage of cases, is not able accurately to align the long axes of the stem indent and the orienting means I14.

When the whole peach is placed upon the downward positioned cradle, as shown in Figure 7, the operator releases her grasp upon the peach and her hand goes back for the next succeeding peach in the mass of peaches in the peach box. The weight of the peach on the cradle I15 causes the cradle and the block I1I on the lower end of the. cradle to move downwardly, the block I1! sliding downwardly in the slideway I10 against the tension of spring I12. These peaches are all of different sizes and weights within a: same grade classification. However, the cradle and block I1! will compress the spring. The rod i'iI' which is affixed to the bottom end of block I'll will thus move downwardly through the open-' then causes the upward operation and, as here inafter described, vibration of the arms I56 and 168 rather abruptly to move the guideway I10 and the mechanism it carries thereon upwardly.

Due to the fact that the peach supported upon the saddle I15 has inertia, the initial upward movement of the guideway I10 also causes the compression of spring I12 and the relative downward movement of rod I1Ia as heretofore described.

As the arm I 68 moves upwardly, the spring will now react quickly to shift the peach support saddle I15 upwardly relative to and away from the guideway 116. This compression, expansion and consequent recompression of the spring as the guideway 19 vibrates upwardly results in an amplified transmission of the vibrations by the spring I12. This action or vibration imparted by the spring mechanism to the orienting means stantially through or through the centerof the long axis of the stem indent.

In accordance with the present invention, driving means is provided for imparting vibration and motion to the arms I66 and I68 during the in-feeding of the fruit, to secure the action of the orienting means. More particularly, this is accomplished by forming the cam I60 with rela-,

tively small projections or rough surfaces I69- in the cam race in which the roller I55 works. Preferably the cam I60 is formed asa cast iron cam having inherent roughness in the cam track or race whereby vibration is imparted by such roughened surface to the roller I65. This vibration is considerably multiplied, approximately on a six-fold basis by means of the lever I 63, the arm ifiii, lever I58 to the receiver I15. Thus an additional movement or vibration is imparted to the orienting means I'M upon which the whole fruit is placed.

By thus supporting the whole fruit on the orienting means I14 while imparting movement and vibration to this orienting means I'M, the peach is vibrated suficiently so that misplacement of the peach upon this orienting projection I14 will cause the peach to shift or turn about a vertical axis, and angularly relatively to the longitudinal means I'M so that the long axis of the stem indent of the peach will come to aligned position with the central longitudinal axis of the longitudinal means I14. Furthermore, in the event that peaches have slight projections, these bumps or creases on the side walls of their stern indents might otherwise prevent the peach from settling down on the orienting means I34. It will be found that such abnormalities on the side walls of the stem indent will cause the suture plane of the peach to be slanted a slight amount to the vertical plane through the central longitudinal axis of the orienting means Hi. It has been found that the vibration imparted to the peach in the manner aforesaid will vibrate the peach sufliciently so that the orienting means will pass by these bumps, projections or creases and the peach will settle down to its maximum extent onto the orienting means I'M and thereby cause the suture plane of the peach to swing toward the vertical plane and hence to coincide with the vertical plane through the central longitudinal axis of the orienting means whereby each successive peach is positioned and properly oriented with its suture plane vertical and aligned with the plane passing centrally of and through the long axis of the orienting means. Hence during this vibration as the oriented peach is conveyed by upward movement of the lever its from the position shown in Figure 7 to that shown in Figure 8, and the peach placed between the four jaws of the whole fruit turret, the peach will be oriented and positioned so that its suture plane is disposed vertically and aligned centrally of the four jaws and radially of a vertical plane passing between said jaws and radially of the whole fruit turret 300.

Hence the fruit thus properly oriented and held by the holding jaws is carried through the machine at such proper oriented alignment so that subsequently when the hereinafter mentioned cutters 294 operate they will cut in a predetermined manner with reference to the suture plane of the peach and so also when the peach is passed to the saw mechanism the plane of operation of the sawing mechanism will coincide with the suture plane of the oriented peach and the saw wili sever through the whole peach substantially on and through the suture plane of the peach.

Whole fruit conveying mechanism Referring now to the turret proper and to the fruit holding jaws, it will be observed that the intermittently rotatable sleeve IBI carries an additional sleeve I11 and aflixed' thereto are a plurality of post supports H 8, such supports being radially spaced around the central vertical axis of the turret. Each one of these supports I13, in turn, is provided with an upright extension upon which the whole fruit holding jaws are mounted. By reference to Figures 6 to 16, inclusive, the construction and operation of these jaws will be apparent. The lower jaw I8 I is pivoted as at I85 to the upright I18. This lower jaw is formed with two integral spaced apart jaws or fruit gripping fingers I8I, which have concaved portions I82 and I83 adapted to engage the curvilinear contour of the whole peach on opposite sides of a plane passing substantially vertically through the plane of the suture, as shown in Figures 15 and 16.

In addition, this lower jaw I3I is provided at its rear end with an angularly disposed tooth projection I84, and is provided with a connection I with a coil spring I85 as hereinafter set forth. The upper jaw is made in two pieces, whereas the lower jaw is preferably made in a ingle piece. The details of construction of the upper jaw are shown in Figures 13 and 14. This upper jaw comprises a head portion I8! centrally apertured as at I88. The head is provided with a lateral lug I89 hereinafter referred to, and with an operating roller I98 on its upper portion, and a laterally extending tooth arm IQI, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the arm of the lower clamping jaw of the whole fruit holding mechanism. In addition, the head portion I8? is provided with a laterally extending fruit clamping jaw I92 having a curvilinear fruit contacting face 393 for engaging the contour of the peach on one side of the plane of the suture. In addition, this jaw is provided with an upstanding lug I94, to which the upper ends of the spring 385 connect. The cooperative part of the upper jaw is formed with a round bearing I95, which easily fits within the opening I 88 of the head I81 to permit relative angular movement between the parts. This head is provided with a furcation in the form of a rearwardly extending lug I96, which is adapted to receive the lug I 59 therebetween that is formed on the cooperative portion of the first portion of the upper grippin jaws. In addition, this part of the jaw is provided with a forwardly extending gripping portion I91, which is arcuately curved as at I to grip the contour of the peach on the opposite sides of the suture planes, as shown in Figures 15 and 16. The furcation I95 and the cooperating lug [89 provide a lost motion connection, which permits two portions of this upper jaw to have vertical adjustment, as shown in Figures 15 and 16, whereby in the event a peach is held, which is of smaller diameter on one side of the suture plane than the other, the upper gripping jaw will adjust itself accordingly, whereby to hold the peach precisely as it is inserted between these jaws when they move together under the tension of the closing springs I88. There are a pair of springs for each jaw one on each side of the vertical plane through the central portion of these jaws-the upper ends being attached to the pins I94 and I94, respectively, and the lower ends of the springs being attached to the pins 85 and IE5 of the lower jaws. It will be noted that the holding portions I5 I, I8 I of the lower jaws and the portions I92, I91 of the upper jaws are spaced apart to permit the entry of the saw 3'56 therebetween in the subsequent cutting operation of the peach through its suture plane, presently to be described, so that the saw may completely sever the entire peach and its pit while held in these jaws. It will be further noted that this space between these fingers I 8 I, IBI and I92 and I9? lies in the suture plane of the peach, which is approximately the plane of the maximum diameter of the peach, or parallel thereto.

Means for operating the jaw mechanism of the whole fruit holding means comprises a cam 200 which is splined to the upper end of the shaft I55. This cam is provided with an internal camway adapted to receive a roller 2B2 mounted upon a slide 23% disposed immediately beneath th cam and lying transversely across the shaft I55. The slide is suitably slotted as at 206 (see Figures 6 and 12) to permit movement of the slide back and forth transversely across the axis of the shaft I55. The slot is adapted to move in guideways 208 fixed to the extension support of the machine. The bottom portion of the slide is provided with two depending lugs forming extensions thereon. These lugs are 180 degrees apart. The cam race 202 of cam 299 extends 360 degrees of a total annular travel or" the cam. When the slide 264 is moved toward the feed-in station, 1. e., away from the main or half fruit turret, the depending lug nearest the main turret moves toward the feed-in station, and thereby pushes the roller I98 on the top of the upper finger of the corresponding whole fruit jaws inwardly toward the shaft I55, thereby positively to open these fruit jaws. Simultaneously, the opposite lug 2m, which is spaced 180 degrees therefrom, moves in the same direction to permit the spring I86 to close the oppositely located fruit clamping jaws about or into engagement with a peach positioned by the fruit receiving saddle H5, and thereby hold the whole fruit firmly between the fingers of the jaws. Any variations in size of successive peaches are automatically compensated for by the yielding action of the springs I85 between the upper and lower clampin jaws, and any deviations in size on opposite sides of the plane of the suture of the peach are compensated for by the relative movement between the members of the upper fruit jaw.

The upright H? on turret H? has rigidly bolted thereto as at 2I2 a laterally projecting backing member 2M, which is shaped as shown in Figure 8 thereby to position and firmly to hold the rear portion of the peach positioned between the clamping jaws by the whole fruit receiver H5.

By reason of the foregoing construction, the whole fruit turret is intermittently rotated to position each pair of fruit holding jaws at the receiving station, during which time the jaws are automatically held in open position while a whole peach is fed onto the peach-receiving cradle H in a manner hereinafter set forth, and thereafter the receiver I15 is moved upwardly to position the peach, as shown in Figure 8, during which time the upper and lower jaws of the clamping members are cam released so as to resiliently appreach the peach to grasp and hold it firmly and precisely in the before described predetermined position.

At the same time that the turret is moved, the shaft I55 is synchronously driven to operate automaticaliy the cam and slide hereinbefore mentioned to cause hese proper opening and closing movements of these jaws in timed relation.

Further referring to the foregoing mechanism, once the whole peach is placed manually with the long or suture plane axis of its stem cavity registering with and oriented by the positioning nib l'ld of the fruit cradle, as illustrated in Figure 9, the whole peach will thereafter be raised upwardly to the position shown in Figure 8, with the stem axis downwardly inclined from the horizontal, as therein shown, and with the suture plane in predetermined position. At this time the whole fruit jaws firmly grasp the fruit as hereinbefore set forth, whereupon the fruit-receiving cradle moves downwardly, the turret then automatically shifts to the stem cavity trimming station; and at the same time an empty set of whole fruit holding jaws is brought into registration ready for the next upward movement of the whole fruit receiving cradle.

It will be understood that in lieu of the cast iron cam for causing vibration of the receiver H5, any type of equivalent means so formed to vibrate the receiver may be used. In fact, the cam may be provided with relatively small spaced bumps which will impart an even greater vibration but a cam made with the equivalent roughness of a cast iron cam will cause sufiicient vibration to effect complete orientation of the suture plane of the half peach in the manner hereinbefore described.

It will thus be seen that the whole fruit conveying means cooperates with the orienting means in the infeed station to preserve the orientation of the fruit, both in respect to its stem indent and its suture plane, as the fruit is presented to processing means now to be described.

Fruit processing means Various fruit processing operations are conducted upon the fruit, in accordance with the present invention, some of which are effected while the fruit is held by the whole fruit conveyor, and others of which are effected as and after the fruit is transmitted to the half fruit conveyor. The several processing operations such as splitting, peeling, and pitting which are eifected as and after the fruit is transmitted to the half fruit conveyor are described in our aforementioned Patent No. 2,398,780 of which the present case constitutes a continuation-in-part. The stem indent peeling operation, and an associated orienting operation performed upon the fruit in connection therewith and while the fruit is held within the whole fruit conveyor are particularly described in our aforementioned copending division application, Serial No. 64,053.

As previously pointed out, claims specific to such orienting operation, and claims generic thereto and to the orienting means I'M heretofore described are presented in said co-pending division application, the claims herein being species claims to the orienting means I14, and its associated mechanisms, as hereinbefore described. More particularly, the claims of the present application difier from the claims in the co-pending application, Serial No. 64,053, how Patent No. 2,649,879, in that in the present application the claims are restricted to construction wherein a relative movement is produced for shifting or changing the angularity of the long axis of the stem indent of the peach with respect to the long axis of the orienting means, and to construction wherein the peach is supported in a manner so that it can move freely in respect to the orienting means due to the pressure engagement thereof; or, more specifically, while it is loosely supported upon the supporting surface of the orienting member; and wherein the orienting member is moved or the peach is moved, or where a relative movement is provided between the peach and the orienting means for angularly and relatively shifting the longitudinal axes of the stem indent and the orienting means. In addition, the claims in the present application are drawn to means for producing movement of the orienting means, and relative movement between the peach and the orienting means while the peach is in contact with the orienting means, whereby to facilitate such orienting operation and produce a relative shifting between the peach and the orienting means, to align the stem indent therewith. The turret position at which the stem indent peeling and associated orienting operations are effected is perhaps best illustrated herein in Figures 17 and 18 wherein it will be seen that the mechanism comprises a rotatable orienting wheel 283 which engages the surface of the whole fruit and moves into the stem indent longitudinally of the suture plane axis, and a pair of rotatable cutter devices 2&8 and 29% for peeling the stem indent, all of which are coaxially mounted upon a shaft 285 and are operable upon the whole fruit a and after the whole fruit conveyor has moved so as to move the whole fruit one step from the infeed and orienting station heretofore particularly described. After the whole fruit conveyor has moved the whole fruit through a. second step of movement the fruit is engaged by a power driven rotatable cutting saw 376, as also indicated in Figure 12, so as to efiect the sawing of the fruit body and the sawing of th fruit pit directly through the fruit suture plane.

While each of the aforementioned processing operations, in accordance with the present invention, is conducted in predetermined reference to the stem indent and suture plane of the fruit because of the orienting means and the fact that the fruit conveying means continuously maintain the orientation or positioning of the fruit, as has been previously described, in the interest of brevity and as illustrative of the principles involved, only the stem peeling and sawing operations will be particularly herein described. The details of the other sawing and pitting operations are described in detail in our said Patent No. 2,398,780, reference to which is here made.

Referring first to the stem cavity peeling means, it will be seen by reference to Figure 1 that mounted on the top of the frame 12 is a motor 216, which drives a belt M8 to pulley 22s on the shaft 222. This shaft, in addition carries a worm gear 2% driving another gear 220 (see Figure 18) on a vertical shaft 230. This shaft 230 is connected by means of a universal joint 232 to a telescopic shaft arrangement 23%, which has pinned to the lower portion of the telescopic shaft arrangement a bevel gear 236. This telescopic shaft arrangement includes a driving key 238 of usual construction, and a spring 2% whereby to cause the bevel gear to be driven from the shaft 230 while permitting relative reciprocation of the movable portions of the telescopic shaft, and while at the same time permitting a swinging movement of the cutter mechanism driven by the bevel gear 236, as hereinafter set forth.

In addition to the telescopic shaft 23 there is provided a swinging frame arrangement adjacent thereto comprising a bracket 2 52 rigidly mounted upon a support portion 26 i of the main frame. This bracket 242 includes an outstanding pin-like bearing 2%, upon which a hub portion 248 of a mounting is adapted to oscillate. This hub portion 248 has a depending socket 250 having a depending shaft 252 afiixed thereto as at 25%. The bottom portion of this shaft 252 has slidably, adjustably aflixed thereto a carriage 256 (see Figures 17 and 18). The upper portion of this carriage is provided with a smaller sleeve 332 carrying a pin 260, on which a pair of rollers 262 are mounted. The lower portion of the carriage carries a ring-like member 26d having 2. depending bracket 260, which, as shown in Fi ure 13, comprises arms 258 and 210 and a sleevelike support 272 for the bottom portion of the telescopic shaft 2%. The central arm 210 has a lower portion 216 forming at its bottom end a bearing 2'13 for the bottom portion of the telescopic shaft arrangement 234. Mounted in the arms 268 and 210 of this lower carriage is the shaft 280, to which is afiixed a bevel gear 282 for driving the same from the bevel gear 236. Also mounted upon this shaft 280 between the arms 268 and 21% is the peeling cutter arrangement comprising the orienting wheel 283 and stem cavity peeling and suture plane cutters 288 and 299 previously referred to in reference to Figure 12. This wheel 283 has opposite hubs 28-2 loosely mounted on shaft 280, the wheel thus being rotatably mounted so that it can roll onits shaft down into and out of the stem cavity, carrying with it the pair of rotating cutter blades 288 and 2%. Adjacent each hub 284 is a collar 285 and 286, which are keyed to the shaft 280 and form a support for the said cutter blades 288 and 29%, which are of the general configurations shown in the drawings, and are attached to the collars 255 and 286 by means of the screws 292. It will be noted that the cutter members are staggered degrees, so as to counterbalance the high speed rotation of the cutter shaft. Each cutter comprises generally concaved portions 294 on opposite sides of the wheel 283, and because of this opposite arrangement of these concaved portions of the cutters in combination with the wheel 283, which is adapted to roll in the suture plane axis of the central portion of the peach cavity, the cutters as they rotate will completely and precisely cut and sever the peel from the stem cavity.

Means is provided for oscillating the cutter about its swingable bearing pin 246, and, in association therewith, there is provided a cam mechanism to give the cutter a definite swinging movement. By reference to Figure 1'7 it will be seen that means is provided to place the stem cavity peeling cutters in position so as to partake of a swinging movement resiliently or yieldingly inwardly toward and into the stem cavity of the peach, and also a positive displacement movement away from the stem cavity of the peach and/or substantially up-and-down or vertical, reciprooatory movement longitudinally of the longer or suture plane axis of the stem cavity.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, mounted upon the whole fruit turret shaft I55 at the top thereof is a, cam 300 which is pinned to shaft as at 302. This cam is provided with a camway 304 shown also in Figure 6. Slidably mounted transversely of the shaft I55 is a slide 306, which is slotted as at 308 to permit such movement of this slide. Such slide carries on its upper surface a roller 3l0 which operates in the cam slide 304, whereby upon rotation of the shaft I55, the slide is reciprocated in the manner shown in Figure 2. This slide at one end carries an operating arm 3l2 provided with a roller 314. This roller is adapted to contact a vertical plate-like member 3|B, which is mounted upon the pivoted member 250, which swings with the assembly. A depending arm 3&8 having a cam portion 3l9 formed on its lower end, is pivotally mounted at 320 on the rigid portion of the support 242, and it is provided with an inwardly extending shorter arm 322 adapted to be disposed between upper and lower screws 324 and 326, and by means of their adjustment are adapted to determine the position of the cam portion of the arm 3I8, whereby to determine the adjustment of the movement of the cutter as it approaches the peach stem cavity. Cam member 3 I8 is adapted to contact one of the rollers 262 carried by the sleeve 256 on the swingable shaft 252 which in turn carries the cutters, whereby to prevent the cutters contacting the jaws l8l, if no fruit be therebetween. The foregoing roller 3, in cooperation with the plate 3ft, positively forces the wheel 283 and the cutters out of contact with the stem cavity so as not to interfere with the movement of the whole fruit turret and the whole fruit holding means. On the other hand, a coil spring 328 has one end attached as at 330 to a ring 332 pinned to the depending sleeve 258, and has its opposite end fixed to a pin 332 on an actuatable arm 336 in turn fixed to an oscillatable shaft 338 hereinafter referred to, whereby the spring 323 constantly tends to draw the swingable stem cavity cutter and wheel yieldingly toward the peach when the slide 3 i 2 and its roller 3H swings to the left, as viewed in Figure 17.

In addition to this movement, means is preferably provided for raising and lowering the wheel 233 and cutting mechanism in synchronized relation to the inward swinging movement of the parts toward the stem cavity. By means of this arrangement, when the rod 252 is oscillated laterally by the roller 312 on the slide M2, and by means of the spring 328, the rod will shift the entire frame or support 266, which carries the wheel and cutter head, while at the same time the sleeve 25G carrying the parts may be shifted vertically with respect to the rod 252, due to the slot and block arrangement therebetween. The means for vertically raising and lowering the sleeve 256 carrying the cutter head and wheel 283 comprises the bar 336 hereinbefore described, which, when actuated, is adapted to raise and lower the sleeve 255 by means of contact with one of the rollers 262 thereon. The shaft 338 that actuates the bar 336 as shown in Figures 2 and 17, is provided at its opposite end with a that the spring 323 resiliently or yieldingly pulls I the wheel 283 and the peach relatively toward each other, while at the same time the wheel is given a vertical upward movement through the action of the power actuated arm 336, whereby the wheel is caused to roll relatively along the convex surface of the peach and into and through the suture plane axis of the stem indent if and when the peach is in proper predetermined position.

As the peach leaves the stem cavity peeling station, it is transferred by the whole peach conveyor to the cutting saw 376 which operates to sever the peach through or substantially through its suture plane into substantially equal size half portions. Referring to Figures 1, 19 and 20, it will be seen that the motor driven shaft 222, previously described, at its outer end carries a pulley 352 which drives a belt 352, the lower end of which drives a pulley 356. The latter is carried on a shaft 358 rotatably mounted in a carriage 360, the opposite end of shaft 358 being connected to and arranged to operate the rotary saw blade 376. It will be seen that by reason of the connections described, the saw will be continuously rotated so long as the motor 2 I 6 is in operation. Carriage 350 is carried at the lower end of a swinging arm 362 adjustably mounted as indicated at 364 upon an arm 366 depending from and secured to a bearing piece 368 concentrically surrounding the drive shaft 222.

Means is provided for swinging the arm 382 and the saw blade carried thereby in predetermined timed relation with the movements of the whole fruit turret. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the slide 326, previously described, has one portion thereof extended toward the rotatable saw and has secured thereto an adjustable rod 312, Figure 19, which is in turn pivotally connected to the arm 35%; by means of a bracket 372. Accordingly as the slide 326 is operated, in predetermined timed relation with the movements of the whole fruit turret, the rotatable cutting saw art will be swung toward and away from the whole fruit to effect the aforementioned sawing operation through the fruit body and through the fruit pit, along the plane of the suture. As heretofore described, the holding jaws for the fruit while in the whole fruit turret are so arranged as to accommodate the movements of the cutting saw.

After the severing of each peach the peach halves are transferred from the whole fruit conveyor to the half fruit conveyor more particularly shown in Figure 2, wherein the two halves of a severed peach are deposited in the two cups that lie on each side of the spreader plates as indicated in Figures 2 and 12. In so depositing a fruit half in each cup the halves are deposited therein with the long axis of the pit extending radially of the turret 452 so that the pitting blades will cut into the flesh of each half fruit around the curved sides of the pit and the axis of pivotal movement of each blade will be parallel to the long axis of the pit. The suture plane will lie substantially in the plane of each severed half pit. Hence each half pit will be subjected to further processing operations specifically the pitting operation described.

' It will be seen that the processing devices heretofore described, such as the peach stem indent cutters 228 and 292, and the suture plane saw 326, will function properly only if the peach is properly oriented both as to its stem indent and also as to its suture plane as it is subsequently presented to such processing or cutting means. In accordance with the present invention this proper orientation and maintained orientation of the fruit is provided by the orienting'mechanism of Fig. 10, hereinbefore specifically described, and the fact that the positioning of the fruit, both as to stem indent and suture plane, is continuously maintained by the transfer mechanism or whole fruit conveyor between the orienting means and the processing or cutting means, whereby to insure the proper operation thereof.

' It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing illustrative description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fruit orienting device, the combination of suture plane orienting means having a general shape of the stem indent of the whole peach along the long axis of the indent, means for positioning said orienting means in a predetermined cause a portion of the peripheral surface of the whole peach to overlie said orienting means, and means to vibrate the whole fruit while so supported to cause the long axis of the stem indent to align with said orienting means so that said orienting means projects to maximum extent into said stem indent to orient the suture plane of the peach with said predetermined plane.

2. Fruit orienting mechanism for orienting whole fruit of the suture plane type in respect to their stem indent and suture plane, said mechanism comprising orienting means arranged to engage the whole fruit and having a relatively longer axis and a relatively shorter axis, said orienting means being provided with a fruit engagement surface which along said relatively longer axis has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the fruit stem indent transversely of the longitudinal axis thereof, said orienting means being shaped to extend freely and loosely into the whole fruit stem cavity and to have its maximum depth of penetration into the stem cavity when the longer axis thereof is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the stem cavity indent, means for supporting the whole fruit in engagement with the orienting means and means for shifting the orienting means and fruit relatively while the fruit is so engaged to cause the orienting means to be projected by the weight of the fruit into the stem cavity a maximum distance when the relatively longer axis of the orienting means and the longitudinal axis of the stem cavity indent are aligned, whereby to efi'ect the orientation of the whole fruit in respect to its suture plane.

3. Fruit orienting mechanism for orienting whole fruit of the suture plane type in respect to their stem indent and suture plane, said mechanism comprising orienting means arranged to engage the whole fruit and having a relatively longer axis and a relatively shorter axis, said orienting means being provided with a fruit engagement surface which along said relatively longer axis has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the fruit stem indent transversely of the longitudinal axis thereof, said orienting means being shaped to extend freely and loosely into the whole fruit stem cavity and to have its maximum depth of pene tration into the stem cavity when the longer axis thereof is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the stem cavity indent, means for maintaining the whole fruit in engagement with the orienting means, and means for vibrating the orienting means and the fruit relative to each other while the whole fruit is engaged by the orienting means to cause the orienting means to be projected into the peach stem cavity a maximum distance when the relatively longer axis of the orienting means and the longitudinal axis of the stem cavity indent are brought into registration by the relative vibration of the'fruit and orienting means, whereby to effect the orientation of the whole fruit in respect. to its suture plane.

4. Fruit orienting mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein said vibrating means comprises a resilient support for the orientingfmeans, and means for imparting reciprocato'ry movement to said support.

5. Peach processing mechanism comprising in combination, an elongated orienting member shaped to penetrate into the stem indent of the peach to maximum extent only when said member is aligned with the long axis of the stem ident of the peach, means for positioning the orienting member to receive a whole peach there: over, means for maintaining the peach superimposed on said orienting member, and means for'causing a relative turning of the peach and the orienting member over which the peach is superimposed to cause the long axis ofthe stem indent of the peach to be aligned with the long axis of the orienting member whereby the orienting member penetrates the stem cavity ofthe peach to maximum extent and thereby orients the suture plane of the peach.

6. In a device for orienting indented and sutured whole fruit, the combination of an orienting member shaped to penetrate to maximum extent into the indent of the whole fruit when aligned with the long axis of the stemv indent, means for receiving and maintaining the whole fruit over and in engagement with said orienting member, and means for vibrating the whole fruit while supported over and in engagement with said orienting member to cause the whole fruit to turn relative to the orienting member until the long axis of the stem indent 01' the whole fruit is aligned with the orienting 1 member and the orienting member thereupon penetrates the stem indent of the fruit to maximum extent to orient the whole fruit as to suture plane.

7. In a device for orienting indented and sutured fruit, the combination of an orienting member thin enough to penetrate the stem indent when aligned with the long axis of the indent and long enough to prevent penetration to the maximum extent into the stem indent except when aligned with the long axis of the stem indent, means for maintaining a Whole fruit supported on said orienting member, and means iorturning said orienting member and the fruit supported thereon relatively to align the long axis of the stem indent with the longer dimension of the orienting member whereby to orient the suture plane of the whole fruit with the long dimension of the orienting member.

8. In a device for. orienting indented and sutured fruit, the combination of an orienting member having a long axis and a short axis whereby to penetrate to maximum extent into the stem indent of a whole fruit when the longer axis of the member is aligned with the suture plane of the fruit, means for maintaining a whole fruit supported on said orienting member and in engagement with said member, means mounting said maintaining means and said member for simultaneous movement to convey a whole fruit supported on said member, means for relatively turning the fruit and the orienting member on which the fruit is supported while the fruit is being conveyed to align the long axis of the stem indent of the fruit with the long axis of the orienting member.

9. In a peach processing machine, a movably mounted peach receiver having orienting means provided with an elongated surface shaped to project to its maximum extent into the stem indent of the whole each along the long axis of said indent when in registration with the suture plane ofthe peach, means for moving said receiver and said orienting means from a peach receiving station to a peachdischarge station, and means operable to shift the peach and the orienting means relatively during movement of the receiver to its peach discharge station to align the suture plane with the elongated surface of the orienting means,

10. Fruit orienting mechanism for orienting 21 whole fruit of the suture plane type in respect to their stem indent and suture plane, said mechanism comprising orienting means arranged to engage the whole fruit and having a relatively longer axis and a relatively shorter axis, said orienting means being provided with a fruit engagement surface which along said relatively longer axis has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the fruit stem indent transversely of the longitudinal axis thereof, said orienting means being shaped to extend freely and loosely into the whole fruit stem cavity and to have its maximum depth of penetration into the stem cavity when the longer axis thereof is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the stem cavity indent, means for maintaining the whole fruit in engagement with the orienting means and means for vibrating the orienting means and the fruit relative to each other while the whole fruit is engaged by the orienting 20 means to cause the orienting means to be pro jected into the peach stem cavity a maximum distance when the relatively longer axis of the orienting means and the longitudinal axis of the stem cavity indent are brought into registration by the relative vibration of the fruit and orienting means, whereby to effect the orienta- 22 tion of the whole fruit in respect to its suture plane, said vibrating means comprising a series of cam abutments for actuating the orienting means to impart vibratory motion to said orienting means.

RAYMOND L. EWALD.

HENRY A. SKOG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,263,742 Chase Apr. 23, 1918 1,445,997 Coons Feb. 20, 1923 1,901,042 Robbins Mar. 14, 1933 2,120,385 Albertoli June 14, 1938 2,185,090 Millen Dec. 26, 1939 2,216,165 Ewald et al Oct. 1, 1940 2,225,979 Carroll Dec. 24, 1940 2,232,089 Wool Feb. 18, 1941 2,232,210 Carroll Feb. 18, 1941 2,296,490 Ashlock Sept. 22, 1942 2,301,979 Smilie Nov. 17, 1942 2,336,123 Perrelli et a1. Dec. 7, 1943 2,343,496 Carroll Mar. 7, 1944 2,398,780 Ewald et a1 Apr. 23, 1946 

